Check In with Our 2024 Summer Interns!
From working Drive, Chip, & Putt qualifiers to gearing up for our biggest Junior Championship of the year, our summer interns do it all with a smile on their face!
Check in with our interns and see some highlights from their internship so far!
Matthew Jones - Tournament Operations
"Out of the seemingly endless number of things I’ve learned over the past 7 months, the most important knowledge I have gained is the understanding of exactly how the professional golf industry is run from a business, operational, and Member perspective. Spending the Spring and Summer traveling around the Southern Texas Section for both Junior and Professional tournaments has allowed me to connect with and learn from Professionals on all sides of the industry.
My favorite part of the internship has been the travel opportunities. Our Section has so many beautiful host facilities that we run our events at and I have been blessed to be able to see and play at some of the most beautiful golf courses in the country. Our professional staff does a wonderful job of accommodating our needs while we are on the road and there are many times where work does not feel like work and I am grateful for that.
One thing I will take with me from this internship is the relationships I have built with my coworkers. I have never held a position that has as cohesive of a workplace culture as the Southern Texas PGA has. I am beyond thankful for the relationships I have built over these last 7 months and I can confidently say that the friendships I have with each and every one of them will not fade away as I leave this internship. "
Valentina Martinez Otto - Digital Media
"This internship allowed me to explore numerous skills in digital media including photography, social media, editing with Adobe platforms, and player/parent interaction. What I took away the most was the fact that this internship confirmed I want to continue my career in this industry because of how much I enjoyed it. Looking back, I think my favorite memory was our first tournament when all the interns got to travel to Austin together!"
Sarah Lummus - Tournament Operations
"Through this internship I have learned not only the logistics and process of running a golf tournament, but how to build relationships with players and their families within those tournaments. My favorite part of this summer would definitely be getting to see myself and my coworkers learn, grow closer with each other, and become more and more confident in our roles. I will be taking away from this internship a deeper understanding of the game of golf as well as numerous positive memories from our time here this summer."
Sammy Garza - Tournament Operations
"The biggest thing I have learned from this internship is the importance of working together as a team and having good communication. My highlight is probably having a cookout for dinner after the Delaware Springs tournament but almost every post tournament dinner was pretty memorable. As sad as I am to see it end, I leave this internship with a strengthened passion for the game of golf and hope to find a career in tournament operations!"
Abby Wolfe - Digital Media
"Through this internship I have been able to increase my knowledge and experience in all things digital media, such as video editing, photography, graphic creation, and more. My favorite part of the internship has been being able to meet people from all over and being able to form relationships that will last a lifetime. The biggest takeaway from the internship is the importance of being willing to learn and take chances, and how it leads to amazing and unexpected experiences!"
Shelbee Gosselin - Tournament Operations
"The most important thing I have learned is how to paint a golf course and what it looks like to run a 36 hole tournament and the people and equipment it takes to run it. My favorite part of the internship so far has been Delaware Springs. It was our first away trip and it was great for team bonding and we had a blast! The biggest takeaway I will be taking from the internship is how fun work can be when around amazing people!"
Manny Silva - Tournament Operations
"Through this internship I have seen the importance of building connections with everyone you meet, especially the PGA of America Members. My favorite part of this summer would be to go to all of the incredible golf courses we have and being able to play some of the best courses in Texas. From this internship I will be taking away a new passion for the game of golf, as I continue on my journey to become a PGA of America Member."
